Lushan Mountain (lú shān 泸山), also called Washan Mountain (wā shān 蛙山), is situated in the south Xichang City (xī chāng shì 西昌市) of Sichuan Province (sì chuān shěng 四川省). It is 2317 meters above sea level. To the east of the mountain, there is the Qionghai Lake (qióng hǎi 邛海), which is the second largest fresh lake in Sichuan, while to the west of the mountain, there is the Anning River (ān níng hé 安宁河). The whole mountain is covered with thick forest.

The main peak of Lushan Mountain is Shamao Peak (shā mào dǐng 纱帽顶), which is 2317 meters above the sea level. Walking along the winding path in the mountain, you will see the green and thrifty pines. More than 10 ancient temples and pavilions are hiding in the forest. Some of them are Buddist, and some are Taoist. However, it is rare that these temples can coexhist with each other for more than one thousand years.

Among them, the grandest is the Guangfu Temple (guāng fú sì 光福寺), which constitutes the Thousand Buddha Hall (qiān fó diàn 千佛殿), Wenwu Hall (wén wǔ diàn 文武殿), Kuixing Pavilion (kuí xīng gé 魁星阁), and the Great Buddha’s Hall (dà xióng bǎo diàn 大雄宝殿). Guangfu Temple was constructed during the Tang Dynasty (táng cháo 唐朝). In the temple, there is a bronze bell which was cast during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (qián lóng dì 乾隆帝) of Qing Dynasty (qīng cháo 清朝). Besides, there are many tablets, thurible, and bronze Buddist statues. All of them can reflect the rising and declining of Guangfu Temple. In all the temples on Lushan Mountain, there is Wanghai Pavilion. Each of them will give you different sight views. The one in Guangfu Temple is called Yinyun Pavilion (yín yún lóu 吟云楼). Standing on the pavilion, you will see the boats in Qionghai Lake. The willows and villiages around the lake are leaping to your eyes.

Go up the stairs beside the Guangfu Temple, you will see a large collection of ancient stone tablets about the earthquake happened in Xichang. All the tablets record the time of the earthquake, the damage the earthquake brought to the architectures and people. It is one of the four greatest tablet forests in China, and it is also provide precious imformation for the research of the earthquake.

Lushan Mountain is like a huge green protective screen for Xichang. Travelling in Lushan Mountain will make you relax and bring great joy to you.

Lushan MountainLocation: 5 kilometers to south XichangAdmission fee: CNY 3 for Lushan Mountain
CNY 3 for Guangfu Temple
CNY 20 for cablewayOpening hours: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.Transportation: you can take bus No. 22 and get off at Qionghai Park (qióng hǎi gōng yuán 邛海公园), or you can take a taxi in Xichang, which will cost you 15 yuan
Attractions nearby: Lugu Lake